Folding carrier

ABSTRACT

A folding carrier described herein is composed of a plurality of panels made of pliable and flexible material such as fabric, vinyl or leather where each of the plurality of panels may be folded onto each other. The folding carrier also includes a cavity access opening in one of the panels that allows a user to access the cavity formed by the plurality of panels, wherein the cavity access opening is secured to the one of the panels with re-closable access device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/783,503, filed on Mar. 17, 2006 and entitled “Folding Carrier,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The ability to flat pack enclosures such as pet carriers is a problem both before and after purchase by a consumer. After purchase, the consumer is left with a large bulky item to store. Before purchase, during shipment and at the point of distribution and sale, there is a storage problem with large carriers, such as for pets, because such carriers require large shipping volume and consume valuable shelf space.

In the past, many carriers, such as handbags, were simply crushed to store them flat. Crushing is not suitable for those carriers that need to be rigid and remain fully assembled so not to restrict the space within the enclosure. This is very important if the enclosure is used for pets, although it is important for other types of carriers and not limited in use for pets.

SUMMARY

The folding carrier has a body typically having multiple panels, such as two sides, two ends, a bottom and a top. The body is preferably composed of a pliable or flexible material such as fabric, vinyl, or leather. A cavity for holding a pet and for storing or carrying materials is defined by the body. To provide rigidity, the opposing sides, the opposing ends, or the top and bottom have a skeleton formed of a rigid material, such as metal or plastic, covered exteriorly by the pliable material. The skeleton helps define the shape of the body.

Methods of transporting the carrier could include the use of handles, a carrying strap or wheels, either pulled along with a strap on four wheels or tipped on two wheels and pulled along with the use of a retractable rigid handle.

To provide access to the interior or cavity of the body, one or more sides, ends, top or bottom are secured to the remainder of the body with reclosable access devices, such as zippers, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons or the like. At least one edge of the sides, ends, top or bottom that are secured with reclosable access devices is integrally hinged to an adjoining panel of the body, so that when that panel is opened using the reclosable access device, the panel remains attached to the body. In addition, a door may be provided in a side or end which is also secured to the remainder of the body using a zipper, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons or the like. A panel access opening may also be provided in a side, end, top or bottom, such as with overlapping panels of the pliable material. The door provides easy access for a pet owner, for example, to remove a pet, while the panel access opening permits the pet owner to insert his/her hand into the cavity to touch a pet while keeping the body substantially closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

While the appended claims set forth the features of the present patent with particularity, the patent, together with its objects and advantages, may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment, with a substantially rigid handle retracted and a substantially flexible handle extended.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a first embodiment, with a substantially rigid handle extended, a substantially flexible handle flattened, and wheels at the bottom.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment, with a rigid skeleton and a zipper extending across the length of the carrier on both of its sides.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment, with a rigid skeleton and a zipper extending across the width of the carrier at both of its ends.

FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of FIG. 3 with a side unzipped and the body partially folded.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of FIG. 3 with both sides unzipped and spread opposite each other on either side of the top, bottom and two ends.

FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of FIG. 3 with one side folded beneath the bottom and the other side folded between the top and bottom and one end folded over the top.

FIG. 8 shows the embodiment of FIG. 4 with one end unzipped.

FIG. 9 shows the embodiment of FIG. 4 with both ends unzipped and spread away from the rest of the body.

FIG. 10 shows the embodiment of FIG. 4 with both ends unzipped and folded within the cavity formed by the two sides, top and bottom.

FIG. 11 shows the embodiment of FIG. 4 with the body fully flattened with the two sides, two ends, top and bottom substantially parallel to each other.

FIG. 12 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 with one side unzipped.

FIG. 13 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 with both sides unzipped and one side folded into the cavity formed by the top, bottom, and two ends, and the other side spread away from the rest of the body.

FIG. 14 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the body fully flattened and the two ends both unzipped and within the cavity, and the top, bottom and sides substantially parallel to each other.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 with a door at one end unzipped to provide access to the cavity.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 showing a cavity access panel and opening in one end.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 showing a cavity access panel and opening in one end and a side unzipped.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

While the appended claims set forth the features of the present patent with particularity, the patent, together with its objects and advantages, may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Now referring to FIG. 1, it illustrates a three-dimensional front perspective view of a first embodiment 10 of a folding carrier. The first embodiment 10 is illustrated to include side panels 12 and 14, a front and top panel 16 that are visible in FIG. 1. Moreover, the first embodiment 10 also includes a bottom panel 18 and a back panel 20. A telescopic handle 22 and a loop handle 24 may be attached to the back panel 20. The first embodiment 10 of FIG. 1 includes a pocket zipper 24 creating a pocket area on the side panel 12, a front-bottom zipper 26 creating an opening for a pet, etc., in the front, a front-top zipper 28 creating another opening in the front of the carrier and opening-zippers 30 and 32 that may allows the front-top panel to be detachably attached to the side panels 12 and 14 and to the back panel 20.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternate view of the first embodiment 10. Especially, FIG. 2 illustrates the first embodiment 10 from the back so that the back panel 20, the telescopic handle 22 is illustrated in its fully extended form. As it can be seen from FIG. 2, the back panel 20 may also include a telescopic handle housing pocket 34 that may be used to store the telescopic handle 22 in its un-extended form.

Now referring to FIG. 3, it illustrates a second embodiment 40 of the folding carrier. The second embodiment 40 may include side panels 42 and 44 that may be attached to a bottom panel 46 and a top panel 48. The top panel 48 may further be designed to cover front end 50 and back end 52 of the second embodiment 40. A handle 54 may be attached to the top panel 48 while a strap 56 may be attached to the front end 50 and the back end 52 of the second embodiment 40. The bottom panel 46 of the second embodiment 40 may also include a cushioning material located to its inside surface and a semi-rigid material attached to its outside surface. The cushioning material may provide a surface on which a pet can sleep or sit on, whereas the semi-rigid surface may provide support to the weight of the pet.

FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment 60 of the folding carrier. The third embodiment 60 may include side panels 62 and 64 that may be attached to a bottom panel 66 and to a top panel 68. Furthermore a front panel 70 and a back panel 72 may be attached to the side panels 62 and 64 and the top panel 68 by zipper or other similar tying mechanism. A handle 74 may be attached to the top panel 68 while a strap 76 may be attached to the front end 70 and the back end 72 of the third embodiment 60. The side panels 62 and 64 may have zippered pockets such as the pocket 78 attached to them.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second embodiment 40 of the folding carrier with the side panel 42 unzipped and the body of the folding carrier partially folded. FIG. 6 shows the second embodiment 40 of the folding carrier with both side panels 42 and 44 folded down. The back panel 52 is shown to be folded down on the bottom panel of the folding carrier. Similarly, the top panel 48 is also shown to be folded down on the bottom panel and a front panel of the folding carrier. Such flexibility to fold various panels on top of each other allows the folding carrier to be easily stored in a compact fashion.

FIG. 7 shows a different perspective of the second embodiment 40 of the folding carrier in a collapsed format. As shown in FIG. 7, the front panel 50 and the top panel 48 are shown pulled on top of the bottom panel of the folding carrier.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective of the third embodiment 60 of the folding carrier with the back panel 72 of the folding carrier zipped opened and collapsed down. Further in FIG. 9, both the front panel 70 and the back panel 72 of the folding carrier 60 are illustrated zipped opened and collapsed down. Subsequently, a user may fold in the zipped open front panel 70 and the back panel 72 towards the bottom panel of the folding carrier. FIG. 10 illustrates such an embodiment of the folding carrier with the front panel 70 zipped open and folded in towards the inner cavity of the folding carrier.

FIG. 11 illustrates the each of the various side panels of the third embodiment 60 of the folding carrier zipped open and collapsed on towards the bottom panel of the folding carrier. As illustrated in FIG. 11, it is possible to fold the folding carrier to a very compact form, which allows a user to store the folding carrier easily and without taking too much extra space. When in the compact form, the folding carrier may be stored in another container, suitcase, etc., for easily transferring it from one place to another. Such compact form also allows a manufacturer to pack a large number of folded carriers in a shipping container and allows a store owner to shelf a large number of such units on shelves.

Now referring to FIG. 13, the first embodiment 10 of the folding carrier is illustrated with the side panel 72 zipped open. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 13, the zipped open side panel may be folded inside the cavity of the folding carrier. For example, in FIG. 13, the side panel 12 is illustrated to be folded into the cavity of the folding carrier while the side panel 14 is illustrated to be zipped open and folded down. FIG. 13 also illustrates the bottom panel 18 folded down on the back panel of the folding carrier.

FIG. 14 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the first embodiment 10 of the folding carrier from a different point of view. Herein both side panels 12 and 14 are tucked inside the cavity of the folding carrier.

Now referring to FIG. 15, an alternate illustration of the second embodiment 40 of the folding carrier is shown with the front panel 50 zipped and folded down. The other side panels and the back panels may also be similarly zipped down to allow the folding carrier to be folded down.

FIG. 16 illustrates the second embodiment 40 of the folding carrier with a flap 102 attached to the top panel 48. The flap 102 may be provided on one side of the top panel 48 so as to flap down on the front panel 50 or it may also be provided on the other side of the top panel 48 so as to flap down on the back panel 52 as well. The flap 102 may be fixedly attached to the front panel 50 with an attaching mechanism such as zipper, Velcro, buttons, etc. The flap 102 allows a user of the folding carrier to attend to the storage area or the cavity inside the folding carrier without having to open the entire side panel.

Thus, for example, if the folding carrier is used to transport an animal, a user may input his hand through the flap 102 to touch the animal, to feed the animal, etc. Such capability is illustrated in further detail in FIG. 17, wherein the side panel 42 of the folding carrier is shown to be zipped open and collapsed while a user is shown to be approaching the cavity of the folding carrier via the opening created by the flap opening 102.

As shown above, the folding carrier can be folded substantially flat for shipping, store display, or home storage when not in use by simply unzipping the opposing sides, ends, or top and bottom, folding the unzipped sides, ends, or top and bottom into the cavity or exteriorly to the remainder of the body, and pressing the remaining sides, ends, or top and bottom so that the all fold into a flat and substantially parallel position relative to each other. When the carrier is to be used, the procedure is simply reversed to fully assemble it. 

1. A folding carrier comprising: a pliable body comprising a plurality of panels; a plurality of attaching mechanisms for attaching one or more of the panels together to form an enclosed cavity; and at least one of the plurality of panels having an access mechanism for accessing the cavity without opening any of the attaching mechanisms.
 2. The folding carrier of claim 1, wherein the pliable body comprises of: a back panel made of a semi-rigid material; a bottom panel made of a semi-rigid material and attached to the back panel; two side panels made of semi-rigid material and each of the two side panels foldably attached to the back panel; and a front panel made of a flexible material wherein the front panel is foldably attached to the bottom panel and the back panel.
 3. The folding carrier of claim 2, wherein the front panel is adapted to be attached to each of the two side panels via a plurality of zippers.
 4. The folding carrier of claim 3, wherein the front panel further comprises a plurality of openings to the cavity, each of the openings adapted to be enclosed by using a zipper.
 5. The folding carrier of claim 4, wherein the back panel is attached to a telescopic carrying handle.
 6. The folding carrier of claim 5, wherein each of the side panels are further adapted to have a pocket.
 7. The folding carrier of claim 5, wherein the bottom panel is attached to a wheel assembly.
 8. The folding carrier of claim 5, wherein the front panel is made of a semi-transparent material that allows circulation of air to the cavity.
 9. A folding carrier comprising: a pliable body comprising: a continuous panel made of a semi-rigid material covering the front, back bottom and top of the pliable body, and two side panels made of semi-rigid material and each of the two side panels foldably attached to the continuous panel; a plurality of attaching mechanisms for attaching one or more of the panels together to form an enclosed cavity; and at least one of the plurality of panels having an access mechanism for accessing the cavity without opening any of the attaching mechanisms.
 10. The folding carrier of claim 9, wherein the continuous panel further includes a handle attached to the top of the pliable body to carry the folding carrier.
 11. The folding carrier of claim 10, wherein at least a part of each of the side panels are made of a transparent material that allows air circulation to and from the cavity.
 12. The folding carrier of claim 11, wherein at least part of the front and back of the pliable body are made of a transparent material that allows air circulation to and from the cavity.
 13. The folding carrier of claim 11, further comprising an adjustable carrying strap attached to the front and back of the pliable body.
 14. The folding carrier of claim 11, wherein the access mechanism is made of an opening and a flap located on at least one of the front and back of the pliable body.
 15. The folding carrier of claim 11, wherein the bottom of the pliable body further includes: a cushioning material attached to its the upper surface; and a semi-rigid material attached to the lower surface.
 16. The folding carrier of claim 15, wherein each of the front, back and top of the pliable body may be adapted to collapse on top of the bottom of the pliable body once detached from the side panels.
 17. A folding carrier comprising: a bottom panel made of a semi-rigid material; a front panel made of a flexible material and foldably attached to the bottom panel, at least part of the front panel being made of a transparent material; a back panel made of a flexible material and foldably attached to the bottom panel, at least part of the front panel being made of a transparent material; a top panel made of a flexible material, the top panel being foldably attached to the front panel and the back panel; two side panels, each foldably attached to the bottom panel and adapted to be attached to the front, top and back panel using a closing mechanism; and at least one of the front panel and the back panel having an access mechanism that allows access to a cavity within the folding carrier.
 18. The folding carrier of claim 17, wherein at least part of the side panels are made of transparent material.
 19. The folding carrier of claim 17, wherein the access mechanism includes a flap that is attachable to the folding carrier using Velcro. 